Clothes conditioner



Sept. 16, 1958 E. G. OLTHUIS CLOTHES CONDITIONER Filed May 19, 1954 FIG.I

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 6

INVENTOR. EUGENE G. OLTHUIS Bi I HIS ATTORNEY p 16, 1958 E. G. OLTHUIS2,851,791

CLOTHES CONDITIONER Filed Hay 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

h N o K INVENTOR.

EUGENE G. OLTHUIS BY I J o W no N HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent2,851,791 Patented Sept 16, 1958 ice CLOTHES CONDITIONER Eugene G.Oltliuis, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Application May 19, 1954, Serial No. 430,794

11 Claims. (Cl. 34-90) This invention relates to clotheslaunderingappliances, and more particularly to clothes tumbling. machines forconditioning articles of clothing.

As Well known in the domestic laundry field, the complete operationrequires not only washing and drying, but many items also requireironing. As a preparatory "step to ironing, the articles must beproperly dampened,

which operation consists of adding a carefully controlled and limitedquantity'of water to the articles uniformly.

There are also other instances where it is desirable to add a smallquantity of liquid uniformly to a fabric or article of clothing. Forexample, liquid moth proofing compounds are available for application inlimited quantitiesuniformly'to a garment. There may, of course, be otherexamples where it is desirable to add a limited quantity of adisinfectant, impregnating compound or deodorant to aifabric or articleof clothing.

Correspondingly, it is a primary object of my invention toprovideclothes conditioning apparatus, especially suitable for domesticuse.

removable device for a clothes dryer, which device functions to'a'dd alimited quantity of liquid to articles being tumbled within thedryer ata limited rate, whereby such ."liquid is uniformly deposited on thetumbled articles of clothing.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of this invention, liquidcontainer means are provided within the .rotary tumbling drum or basket"having discharge'means arranged to distribute the'liquid in thecontainer at a relatively slow rate "and to distribute it'through theclothes "as rtheyare tumbled within'the rotating drum. Thus, by placingliquid in the drum the machine will'function to add liquid: gradually tothe clothes, whereas if the'container be empty the machine may beoperated only to evaporate liquid from the articles of clothing.

lnanother ofits aspects, the liquid supply means in accordance with one"specific and preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a liquidcontainer arranged to-bedetachably mounted in the drum; preferablyadjacent one'of the tumbling ribs .or-bafilea'on the trailing sidethereof with respect to the direction of rotation. Thecontainer, .beingremovably mounted within the turnbling drum, can be filled W-ithaclothes conditioning liqvuid. "Thecontainer, in accordance with thisform of the invention, hasa plurality of-relatively small liquiddischargeopenings. for depositing the liquid at a relatively slow rateupon articles being tumbled within the basket. Arelativelylarge filling.opening is provided'in the container adapted to be closed by a specialfiller plug. This .plug is provided with.an'openingextendingtherethrough and with a small-tubesecured within the opening andextending to a point adjacent the opposite side of'the container whenthe plug is in place. This tube is flared at its mouth located at theouter surface-of the filler plug. This particular construction of thefiller plug functions to permit entrance of air into the liquidcontainer to facilitateits discharge, while obviating anyrapid-discharge of the container through the filler'plug itself.

My invention will be better understood from the' following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope willbe pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawing, Fig. 1 is aperspective view with portions thereof broken away to illustrate detailof a clothes conditioning machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is anenlarged partial cross-seetional view through a portion of the machineillustrated by Fig. 1 to illustrate details of the conditioner containerand attachment means; Fig. 3 is a partial view takenon the line 3-3 ofFig. 2 in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is an end view of theliquid container shown by' Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional viewtaken on the line '5--5 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a schematic electricalwiring diagram for the machine illustrated by Fig. 1.

Referring now to a preferred embodiment "of my'invention as shown by thedrawings,'a domestic clothes dryer is illustrated in Fig. l of the typehaving a clothes containing drum I mounted for rotation on asu'bstan-'tially horizontal axis within a suitableenclosure, includ- "anyappropriate construction, and which may include a lint screen 8 and alint trap door 9 hinged on ahori- Zontal axis along its lower edge asillustrated. Thus, the lint trap door may be moved to a closedposition'or pivoted about the hinge to an open position as shown.

Tumbling basket or drum 1 may'be'of the type having a cylindrical outerwall 10 to which is connecte'da rear wall 11 and front wall 12. Rearwall 11 in aco'nventional manner includes appropriate means (not shown)for rotatablym'ounting'the drum within theenc'losur'e, which mountingmeans includes a driven pulley 13secured to'an'dfforming a part of drumor basket assembly .1. Front wall .12 ofvthefbasket includes an"outwardly extendingflange 14 to define a loading op'ening throu'ghwhich articlesof clothing may be placed inthe'ba'sket. Projectingradially inwardly from cylindricalwall ro or 'thebasket are one "or moretumbling ribs'or bafiles'1'5,

functioning in the well understood manner upon' basket rotation to liftthe articles of clothing to 'an'upper'position whereupon they fall underthe influence of gravity backtothe bottom of thebasket.

The basket is driven at tumbling speed and airfiow is provided by use ofa suitable driving source, 'such-a'sa'n electric motor 16 mounted 'on'anappropriate'base bracket 17. Motor 16 drives both a fan blade'18 anda'di'ive pulley 19, with a belt ZO'transmitting'rotation-to' tlie basketthrough pulley13. An appropriateheatingilement, consisting preferably'of'two'sectionsll and'f'22 is positioned within the dryerWherebyfanISforces heated .air throughthe basketand the clothescontained therein for evaporation of moisture, which-spentair'isdirected outwardly through the lint'trap' assembly 7. "I haveshown the'construction of the heating elemenfand air flow arrangementschematically herein since" the specific form thereof does not form apart of'this invention.

This invention is particularly concerned with' an a'rrangement foradding a liquid-to articles'of clothing being tumbled within basket. 1.In thisxpreferred embodiment,

The cabinet is provided with the usual 'resuch liquid is adapted to besupplied at a relatively slow and uniform rate from a liquid containeror cylinder 23 removably mounted within basket 1 adjacent a tumbling rib15, and preferably on the trailing side thereof as regards the directionof rotation. It is also contemplated that container 23 may be shaped andpositioned within the basket to function as a tumbling rib itself,although I prefer the arrangement shown.

The exact nature of this liquid container 23 will be better understoodby a reference to Figs. 2 to 5. As shown, the container is in the formof an elongated cylinder hav ing a front end cap 24 welded, pressed, orsoldered to the cylinder. The front end cap includes an appropriatelyshaped locating key 25, a form for which may be as illustrated by Fig.4. Key 25 is adapted to fit in a correspondingly shaped recess 26 infront wall 12 of the basket. The opposite or rear end of the cylinder isprovided with an end cap 27, likewise soldered, pressed, or providedwith other sealing connection means to the cylinder. A centrally locatedprojecting pin 28 forms a part of end cap 27. The back wall 11 of thetumbling basket is dimpled as indicated at 29 and apertured to receivelocating pin 28. A leaf spring 30 secured to end Wall 11 of the basketprovides a biasing force retaining key 25 in recess 26 of the frontbasket wall. Hence, it can be seen that container 23 is insertable in orremovable from basket 1, by first moving the cylinder axially toward therear wall, deflecting leaf spring 30, permitting key member 25 to bedisengaged from slot 26, and thereby permitting complete removal of thecontainer from the basket. Container 23 may be returned to the basket atany time by reversing the procedure, that is, inserting pin 28 in theaperture in dimple 29 of the basket rear wall, and then locating the key25 of the container in recess 26 in the front wall of the basket.

As clearly shown by the Figs. 2 and 3, container 23 is provided with aplurality of liquid discharge openings 31 of relatively small sizewhereby liquid is discharged from the container during tumbling at arelatively slow and uniform rate. Adjacent one end of container 23 is aliquid filling opening 32 adapted to be closed by a filler plug 33.Since the container 23 may be contacted by the articles of clothingtumbling within the basket, preferably the filler plug 33 is located ina recessed area 34, thereby obviating any projections above the normalcylindrical surface of the container. While this filler plug may befabricated from any suitable material and might be arranged with athreaded engagement with the filler opening 32, it is preferred toemploy a plug of flexible resilient material such as rubber tofrictionally engage the flanged walls defining the filling opening intothe container.

Filler plug 33 serves the additional function of admitting air into theinterior of container 23, while preventing any rapid discharge of watertherefrom. This is accomplished in accordance with this invention byproviding a small tube 35 extending through filler plug 33 to a pointadjacent the opposite wall of the container. When container 23 is in theposition shown by Fig. I, obviously there is no tendency for the liquidtherein to flow outwardly through either the filler plug or theapertures 31. However, as basket 1 rotates, the container 23, beingkeyed in position, reaches an inverted position, whereupon liquid mayflow outwardly through apertures 31 for deposition upon the clothes. Atthis time, the tube 35 will extend slightly above the liquid levelwithin the container providing a passage for air into the interior ofthe container. This arrangement prevents a vacuum lock, which mightotherwise occur and prevent toutward flow of liquid through apertures31. It may also be noted from an examination of Fig. that tube 35 isoutwardly flared, as at 36, defining the mouth of the tube and locatedat the outer surface of plug 33. When using liquid such as water incontainer 23, the liquid forms a meniscus in tube 35 in the well knownmanner. With tube diameters such as are appropriate for use in domestielaundry equipment, the surface tension of the liquid plus the attractionbetween the liquid and tube walls prevents prompt drainage from the tubeduring tumbling and thus blocks entry of air into the container. Byproviding the outwardly flared walls at 36, it is found that thismeniscus can be broken whereupon any liquid within tube 35 immediatelydrains therefrom when the container is in the inverted position. It isfound in practice therefore that this particular arrangement of thefiller plug and vent tube prevents a vacuum lock within container 23 andthus permits an even and uniform discharge from apertures 31.

To illustrate more clearly the operational nature of this invention,reference is now made to Fig. 6 of a schematic wiring diagram of a formuseful for carrying this invention into practice. Electrical power maybe supplied to the machine at a conventional terminal block 37 providingconnection points for lines L1 and L2 and an electrical neutral N. Afusible link 38 may be employed in the usual manner. Lines L1 and L2 areconnected to an electrical sequence controller indicated generally at 39and comprising a pair of cams 40 and 41 for actuating switches 42 and 43respectively. These cams may be rotated by a manual control knob 44 orby an electrical timing motor 45, motor 45 being of the type commonlyused for electric clocks. An electrical door actuated switch isindicated schematically at 46, which switch is in its closed or circuitmaking position when dryer door 6 is closed; and is opened to break thecircuit when the door 6 is opened.

One or more thermostats may be employed within the machine for controlof temperature. In the present instance I have shown a thermostat 47 inseries with a second thermostat 48. One of these thermostats, forexample 48, may be a cycling thermostat normally operative to limitmaximum temperature in the machine and to thereafter cycle between onand off positions to hold substantially this same temperature throughoutoperation. The second thermostat 47 is known as the safety thermostatand is set to open the circuit at a higher temperature in the event offailure of any other part of the device. Thermostat 47 is of theso-called wide differential type and does not reclose its contacts untilthe temperature within the machine has dropped to a point well belownormal operating temperature.

Motor 16 is illustrated as including a main or run winding 49 and astart winding 50, the motor herein represented being of the split-phaseinduction type. Included within motor 16 is a centrifugal actuatingmechanism 51 for controlling a switch having a normally closed position52, when the motor is at rest, and an open position, as shown in dottedlines at 53, when the motor is running.

Typical operation of the machine may occur as follows. The tumblingbasket 1 is loaded, for example with a load of damp clothes to be dried.Door 6 is closed thereby closing switch 46. Manual control knob 44 isrotated in a clockwise direction and set for the desired drying time.This rotation of knob 44 rotates cams 40 and 41, whereby these camsthrough their respective switches 42 and 43, close circuits for machineoperation. Switch 42 may be referred to as the motor control switch,since its closure controls operation of motor 16 commencing with lineL1, switch 42, motor terminal 54, main winding 49, motor terminal 55,switch 46, fuse 38, to the electrical neutral. Appropriate voltage forexample volts is thereby supplied to the motor for its operation. Whenthe motor is at rest, start winding 50 is in the electrical circuit frommotor terminal 54 through the normally closed centrifugal switch 52,start winding 50, to motor terminal 55. In the usual manner, as soon asthe motor has come up to operating speed, the centrifugal mechanismopens the normally closed switch 52 and closes switch 53. The motorstart winding is therefore removed from the circuit.

Cam actuated switch 43 is the so-called heater switch, and a circuit tothe heating elements may be traced from line L2 throughv switch-.43,.the. thermostats 47 vanda48,

heating elements .21 and 22,..the normally. opencentrifugal switch 53(closed only .whenthe motor is operating), motor terminal-.54, switch42, .to-line L1. A manually operable switch .56.may .beincluded in thecircuit for temperature selection. When :switch.56 .is closed, bothsections of the heating elements 21 and 22 are .eiiective; while ifswitch .56. is open,. th en.only heater section'22 is operative.

Continuing with the cycle of operations, it a sufficiently Ilongtimehasbeenset bycontrol .knob 44, the temperaof the motor without heater,commonly referred to as the cool-down period, .continuesforapproximately five minutes whereupon switch .42likewise is openedshutting the "machine down. whenever door. operated switch 46 is opened,motor operation is terminated, and becauseof vthe centrifugalzswitch inthe heater circuit, vtheIheater operation likewise is terminated.

Control knob-44, in additionto two oif positions anda timed .dry' arc,includesa sprinkle arc. Whenthe control knob. .is; rotated .into .the.sprinkle .arc, .cam actuated switch 42 is closed as shown, whilerswitch43,remains open. Therefore, motor 16 can be operated 'for anappreciableperiodtof time, as determined by the setting of knob 44, totumble clothes within the basket, blow air through the basket,butwithoutheater'operation. If

container 23, filled with an appropriate; liquid, has been placed withinthe tumbling drum;as ;previously described, the articles of clothing canbe dampened preparatory to droning, .or otherwise treated or impregnatedwithin the basket. Rotation of cams 40 and Y41 in the sprinkle arc islikewise ,provided automatically by .timingmotor 45 and therefore it ispossible with thiscontrol arrangement 'to-set anladjustable sprinkleperiod,.thereby controlling the amount of liquid added to the articlesbeing tumbled. Alternatively, a measured quantity of liquid may beplaced within container 23 to control the quantity of liquid supplied tothe articles. In either event, the clothes are gently tumbled within thebasket and upon each revolution, a small amount of liquid from container23 is deposited upon the articles uniformly. If desired, the exhaustpassage through the lint trap may be closed by hinged door 9. This ofcourse may not be essential when dampening with water, but isadvantageous when adding certain other liquids. The fan may continue tooperate as an aid in the complete dispersion of the impregnating liquidthroughout the articles being tumbled.

While the present invention has been described by reference to aparticular embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made by those skilled in the art without actuallydeparting from the invention. 1, therefore, aim in the appended claimsto cover all such equivalent variations as come within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnitedStates is:

1. In clothes conditioning apparatus, a tumbling basket mounted forrotation on a non-vertical axis, means rotating said basket at a clothestumbling speed, a clothes tumbling baflie projecting inwardly withinsaid basket, means including heaters for extracting moisture from theclothes being tumbled thereby to dry said clothes, and means foroptionally sprinkling the dry clothes thereby to prepare said clothesfor ironing, said sprinkhng means comprising a liquid containerremovably mounted on said basket adjacent said tumbling battle forcontaining .a

quantity of liquidand having discharge means for slowly dischargingliquidtherefrom responsive to basket rota tion, said liquid containerbeing filled prior to the sprinkling operationandsaid discharge meansdischarging only a smallportion of-the contents of said container uponeach revolution ofsaid basket.

2. Clothes conditioning apparatus comprising a tumlbling basketmounted'for rotation on a non-vertical axis,

means for rotating said basket at a tumbling speed, means including.heaters for extracting moisture from the clothes being tumbled therebyto dry said clothes, and means'for optionally sprinkling the dryclothes, said sprinkling means comprising a 'liquid container secured tosaid basket therewithin, said container having a liquidffilling opening,and also" liquid discharge openings arranged so 'that' liquid containedin said container may be'discharged .slowly therefrom responsive to'basket rotation, said liquid.

container being "filled prior .to the sprinkling operation and saiddischargeopenings discharging only a small portion of the contentsofsaidcontainer upon each revolutionof saidbasket.

3. In a clothes conditioning machine of the type having a tumblingbasket including means for driving said basket at tumbling. speed,.lthat improvement for adding liquid to articles beingtumbled withinsaid'basket comprising a liquid oontainer,..means. mounting saidcontainer within said basket, means defining aplurality of relativelysmall liquid dischargeiopenings. in said container, a filling opening'in said container, afiller plugfor said opening having a-tubularmember,exteriding throughsaid plug from the outer. surface thereofto.apoint adjacent the opposite'wall of said container, and.said tubularmember having an outwardly flared .mouth portionextending toward'theouter surface of said'fillenplug.

4. vIn clothes,conditioning.apparatus;a tumbling basket.mountedforrotationonanon-vertical axis, means rotatingsaidbasketataclothes tumbling speed, a clothes tumbling baffle projecting inwardlywithin said basket,

. means including heatersjfor extracting moisture from the clothes being.tumble'd 'thereby to dry. said clothes and means foroptionallysprinkling the dry clothes, said means comprising .liqui'dcontainer means removably mountedton saidbasket.adjacentsaid tumblingba'fllefor containing a quantity of liquid and having discharge meansfor slowly discharging the liquid therefrom responsive to basketrotation, said liquid container being filled prior to the sprinklingoperation and said discharge means discharging only a small portion ofthe contents of said container upon each revolution of said basket, andmeans providing air circulation through said basket during said liquiddischarge.

5. In clothes conditioning apparatus, a tumbling basket mounted forrotation on a non-vertical axis, means rotating said basket at a clothestumbling speed, a clothes tumbling rib projecting inwardly within saidbasket, means including heaters for extracting moisture from the clothesbeing tumbled thereby to dry said clothes, and means for optionallysprinkling the dry clothes, said sprinkling means comprising a removableliquid container mounted on said basket therewithin for containing aquantity of liquidand having a filling opening, and also a plurality ofdischarge openings through which liquid may be discharged onto articlestumbling within said basket.

6. In a clothes dryer, a tumbling basket, means driving said basket attumbling speed including means enforcing air fiow through said basket, aplurality of clothes tumbling ribs projecting inwardly within saidbasket, heating means evaporating'moisture from articles being tumbledwithin said basket, control means for selectively operating said drivingmeans with and without heater operation, and a liquid container arrangedin cooperation with said 7 basket to be removably positioned thereinadjacent one of said ribs on the trailing side thereof as regards thedirection of rotation, and having liquid discharge means arranged sothat liquid within said container is added to articles being tumbledwithin said basket.

7. In a clothes dryer, a tumbling basket, means driving said basket attumbling speed including means enforcing air flow therethrough,electrical heating means for heating the air flow through said basketwhereby said air flow dries the clothes being tumbled, and means foroptionally sprinkling the dry clothes, said means comprising a liquidcontainer removably mounted on said basket, said container having arelatively large filling opening and a plurality of relatively smalldischarge openings, a filler plug for said filling opening and having acentral opening therein, and a tubular member extending through thecentral opening in said plug to approximately the full depth of saidcontainer.

8. In a clothes dryer, a tumbling basket, means driving said basket attumbling speed including means enforcing air flow therethrough, aplurality of clothes tumbling bafiles projecting inwardly within saidbasket, electrical heating means for heating the air flow through saidbasket whereby said air flow dries the clothes being tumbled, and meansfor optionally sprinkling the dry clothes, said means comprising aliquid container arranged in cooperation with said basket to beremovably positioned therein adjacent one of said baffles on thetrailing side thereof as regards the direction of rotation, saidcontainer having a relatively large filling opening and a plurality ofrelatively small discharge openings, a filler plug for said fillingopening having acentral opening therein, and a tubular member extendingthrough the central opening in said plug to approximately the full depthof said container, said tubular member having a diverging mouth portionin said plug.

9. In a clothes conditioning machine of the type having a tumblingbasket including means for driving said basket at tumbling speed, thatimprovement for adding liquid to articles being tumbled within saidbasket, comprising a liquid container, means defining a plurality ofrelatively small liquid discharge openings in said container, a fillingopening in said container, a filler plug for said opening having atubular member extending through said plug from the outer surfacethereof to a point adjacent the opposite wall of said container, andmeans for removably securing said container on said tumbling drum forrotation therewith.

10. In a clothes conditioning machine of the type having a tumblingbasket including means for driving said basket at tumbling speed, thatimprovement for adding liquid to articles being tumbled within saidbasket comprising a liquid container, means defining a plurality ofrelatively small liquid discharge openings in said container, a fillingopening in said container, a filler plug for said opening having atubular member extending through said plug from the outer surfacethereof to a point adjacent the opposite wall of said container, andmeans for removably securing said container on said tumbling drum forrotation therewith, said tubular member having an outwardly flared mouthportion extending toward the outer surface of said plug.

11. A liquid sprinkling container adapted to be positioned within thetumbling basket of a clothes dryer or the like, comprising wall meansdefining said liquid container for retaining a quantity of liquidtherein, means defining a plurality of relatively small liquid dischargeopenings in said container through said wall means, a filling openinginto said container, a filler plug for said opening having an air ventopening therein, a tubular member extending from said air vent openingto a point adjacent the opposite wall of said container, said tubularmember having a diverging mouth portion extending to the outer surfaceof said filler plug to keep said tubular member free of liquid duringflow of liquid through said discharge openings thereby permittingentrance of air into said container.

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